Shooting a coyote while wild turkey hunting

[greatwhite]

Down here in wmu 65 small game permit is valid all year. Up above wmu 48 is where the June 15 takes effect.

Also, coyote season is open year round but a small game permit is not valid during summer months. ie: June 15 to opening of rabbit.

[rippin_355]

Wolf and Coyote season is open in most of WMUs 1-58 on September 15 to March 31 the following year. With the exception of a few geographic regions with no season.

[GW11]

This situation comes up each year in discussions. It becomes very clear the positions that some individuals take, it is usually due to lack of knowledge or respect for the animals we hunt. Other than that some feel they are the appointed ones to act for certain reasons.

I have chased and hunted coyotes probably longer than some have hunted. I would never shoot one at this time of the year unless you were faced with a very dominant killing coyote, then sure for obvious reasons.

We need to have respect for the animals we hunt, we need to have a set of ethics that determine our actions.

So sure go ahead but maybe take the time to find the den and finish the job. Almost all the serious coyote hunters I have met and run with would never shoot one at this time of the year.

All that however does not prevent others from doing so..........

While I fully agree that respect for the animals you hunt is an important virtue, the wishes of the landowner come before the well-being of the coyotes on his/her property. I gained access to my best turkey property by agreeing to shoot coyotes on sight, whether it potentially "ruins" a hunt or not.

It's not that I believe that I've been "appointed to carry out some level of protection". The landowner has asked a favour in return for permission to hunt other game on the property. In my eyes no different than asking me to help with firewood or hay. Maybe it's not seen as "ethical" in the eyes of serious coyote hunters, but if I don't do it someone else will and I lose a friendly relationship with a landowner and a property to hunt.

Pest control is never pretty. Yes, I fully realize that shooting a coyote here and there is nowhere near an effective means of "controlling" their numbers, but it sure keeps the farmers happy.

[DGearyFTE]

While I fully agree that respect for the animals you hunt is an important virtue, the wishes of the landowner come before the well-being of the coyotes on his/her property. I gained access to my best turkey property by agreeing to shoot coyotes on sight, whether it potentially "ruins" a hunt or not.

It's not that I believe that I've been "appointed to carry out some level of protection". The landowner has asked a favour in return for permission to hunt other game on the property. In my eyes no different than asking me to help with firewood or hay. Maybe it's not seen as "ethical" in the eyes of serious coyote hunters, but if I don't do it someone else will and I lose a friendly relationship with a landowner and a property to hunt.

Pest control is never pretty. Yes, I fully realize that shooting a coyote here and there is nowhere near an effective means of "controlling" their numbers, but it sure keeps the farmers happy.

Interestingly enough I am in pretty much the same situation. As I mentioned in my earlier post, the farmer has already lost one calf to the coyotes. His wishes come first since each time he looses an animal it comes out of his bottom line. Though there is insurance for loss due to predators it is not as simple, as easy or even close to being able to replace the loss. In a couple of years he would have sold that calf for >$1500 at the auction (I go there often so I can say this is an accurate number).
So, while I am turkey hunting in the coming weeks I will have a 22-250 beside me in the blind with a shotgun to deal with the coyotes. Another farmer that has allowed me to hunt his fields lost 5 lambs to coyotes last year. He is also out of pocket for near $1000.
So, the ethics are all well and nice but unfortunately the reality is simple, coyotes are predators and they simply do what they are programmed by nature to do. Yes, they will hunt mice this time of year but given an easy meal of a small farm animal they will default to the easy kill.

[tracker]

I hunt yotes when the fur is prime and with snow on the ground. That being said a farmer that allows us to hunt is who I will make happy if asked to shoot any yote or what ever game the MNR issues a permit for to take whatever out of season.

[rick_iles]

They ey don't fare too well if they get close enough to me either. All the coyotes I have shot during turkey season have been males.

[dutchhunter]

can you have a rifle with you well hunting turkeys with a shotgun .I am not to sure about that ..I would not want to be cought with a 22 250 well in the turkey blind ,,D

[rick_iles]

can you have a rifle with you well hunting turkeys with a shotgun .I am not to sure about that ..I would not want to be cought with a 22 250 well in the turkey blind ,,D

Me either !!!!!

[trimmer21]

can you have a rifle with you well hunting turkeys with a shotgun .I am not to sure about that ..I would not want to be cought with a 22 250 well in the turkey blind ,,D

Nope! We may only carry the class of firearm prescribed for the game being hunted. That's one reason I only use #4-3" mag with a full choke. I'll either take the head off a Turkey or,at close range,a Coyote won't know what hit him. Carrying a rifle for Coyotes during a Turkey hunt is a recipe for disaster. With the woods full of camo'd up hunters,how could one be absolutely sure of their backdrop should there be a pass through shot or a miss? That's damn close to "careless hunting" charges,right there.

[dlagr21]

I've seen a few posts this week of guys who have dropped coyotes while out Turkey hunting.